Architect Careers Information
Architects are responsible for creating and designing the structures we use everyday, from the smallest of homes to the tallest of skyscrapers. They must possess a unique blend of artistic, mathematic, and personal skills.
Historically, those in architect careers have hand drawn building plans, or blueprints, and even constructed three dimensional models of proposed structures. While these skills are still taught in architectural curriculums and used from time to time, most architects have in recent years switched to computers as their primary design tool.
Many architects are self-employed and so must be adept not only at handling all aspects of a project but also the day to day requirements of a small business. Some architects, however, work for larger firms and may specialize in a certain aspects of the building process, such as project management or blueprint rendering.
Architecture Careers Path
A five year Bachelor’s degree with a three year apprenticeship period is the most common route to becoming an architect. Students who already have a Bachelor’s in another field may earn a Master’s degree, but it will likely still take three to four years since many of the courses are specialized. At the end of the apprenticeship period, a student must pass a licensing exam in order to become fully certified.
Architect Careers Compatible Personality Traits
Creative, excellent spatial reasoning and visual skills, good communicator, team player, detail-oriented, good under pressure, problem-solver, ability to adjust plans as the need arises.
Architect Interview
To find out all of the ins and outs of an architect career, Read More from an Architect…
Architect Careers Salary Expectations
The average salary for an architect is $70,320, with the middle fifty percent earning between $53,480 and $91,870 a year. Those in the internship phase of their career should expect to earn less.
Most architects work for small firms with less than five architects because business cycles can strongly affect earnings from year to year. Since in some years expenses may outpace income, partners in such small firms should be prepared with financial reserves to support them until business picks up.
Job Outlook for an Architect
Employment opportunities for architects are expected to grow by 16% in the coming years as the current workforce retires and new populations, especially those in the Sun Belt region, continue to grow and demand more commercial and residential space. However, some companies in recent years have begun outsourcing design work; this trend could have an negative impact on future job growth.
Slightly off the Footpath of Architect
Landscape Architect
Civil Engineer
Construction Management
Contractor
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Psychologists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos038.htm (visited November 1, 2011).
